Saturday Review

Ralph Beckett's good run of form continued at Newbury on Saturday with Haskoy producing a smart performance to win the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes by a short head. The Golden Horn filly hadn't been seen since crossing the line in second in the St Leger at Doncaster (later placed fourth) and was returning from an absence of 251 days. Showing a good turn of foot to lead inside the final furlong, she got the better of the John and Thady Gosden trained Israr and her trainer is keen to have a crack at the Ascot Gold Cup. Having only raced four times, she is open to further improvment and has every chance of staying marathon trips. Estimate was the last filly to win the Royal showpiece ten years ago.

The Hampshire trainer nearly won the Listed fillies stakes later on the card, too, with Bluestocking suffering a narrow defeat behind the Ballydoyle trained Warm Heart. Indeed, one can't help feeling the Camelot filly should have won with her wide draw and lack of experience arguably catching her out. It can also be argued if the jockeys on the first two were reversed, the outcome would have been different, too. Despite her loss here, the Juddmonte owned filly remains a three year old of considerable potential, especially when tackling a mile and a half. With the Epsom Oaks most unlikely to be on the agenda, the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (22nd June) could be next. 

Charlie Appleby claimed his first win in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes with Modern Games registering a length and a half victory under William Buick. Runner-up at Keeneland last month, the four year old was winning for a fifth time at the highest level as he stayed on strongly to win going away from Chindit. The Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot is next and will be attempting to go one better than when finishing second in the QEII Stakes over C&D last Autumn. I contacted William Haggas on Saturday morning and he felt My Prospero wasn't quite at his peak and therefore will have been pleased to see him staying on in fourth. Expect to see him over further in due course with the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting a strong possibility. 

The champion trainer was out of luck earlier on the card when his Group 2 winning juvenile Noble Style could only dead heat for third position in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes. The Kingman colt seemingly didn't stay in the 2000 Guineas when finishing sixth and was reverting back to sprint trips here. Sporting a noseband, he never looked comfortable throughout and was well held three lengths behind the progressive Shaquille. His head carriage didn't impress and it will be interesting to see what is next for last year's Gimcrack Stakes winner. He is a horse blessed with speed who should have been winning on Saturday. One wonders whether he may undergo surgery - Charlie has done well with horses he has gelded in recent years. Alternatively, he may have resented the noseband. His next run is going to be an important one because Noble Style has something to prove now.